The Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge

It's so surreal to me that what started as an idea shortly after Colin's birth in April became reality yesterday! On a beautiful March day, 50+ CAT Crew members and over 4,500 people lined up on the beach in Seaside Heights and jumped into the 38 degree ocean in support of the Special Olympics. On top of that, there were thousands of people there to show their support, including all of those that were there for CAT Crew. It felt amazing to be such a part of a great day! Much thanks to Jorie and Zach Gallagher (and Liam and Kaia too!), great friends of ours, who started this idea back in April and fully carried it through to organize CAT Crew, take all of the amazing pictures we have of the day, organize the warming up party, get shirts, and be such supportive friends through our journey. We love you guys!

I would also like to thank our families...my parents (Nana & Grandad), Chris' parents (Gammy and Grandpa), all of our siblings: Tim, Pat, Kim (+ Kristine and Jon), Brian, Maureen, Beth (+ Jason), my grandparents (Grammy, Poppy, and Grandma), aunts and uncles, cousins, our forever friends (ALL of you), and all of our new friends who were a part of CAT Crew whether you were actually there or there in spirit (all of you friends and family throughout the country)...

We feel honored, proud, and loved to have such support on our journey with Colin. We are so touched that all of you have rallied around us from the beginning, got our team up and running, went out and fundraised, and help our team to raise just under $35,000! This is truly what love, family, and friendship is all about...

So, a little bit about the day...

Some of us met at the Sawmill in Seaside Heights for their breakfast buffet. All of the costs from the breakfast were donated to the Special Olympics!

It was much more quiet than I expected down there, so it was nice for us to get a chance to just sit and relax for a few minutes before the craziness ensued.

It was also great to get some yummy food in us before jumping in!

We all met near the registration tent so we could set our game plan, get our gear, and then eventually head to the beach.

As each team member started to show up, my feeling of excitement grew and grew!

To see it unfolding before my eyes was so amazing!

We all had to put on a wrist band and each one of us got index cards to pick up our gifts based on how much money we had raised.

Every time someone from CAT Crew went into the tent (where we had our OWN registration table), they made a different announcement.The announcements ranged anywhere from how much we had raised to the fact that we were a first year team and had raised so much!It was a little bit crazy over by the area of the boardwalk where we had to get onto the beach. Unfortunately, spectators and plungers had separate entrances, so we had to part ways with our supporters...including CAT of CAT Crew! So, Chris and I said goodbye to the person who was the reason to why we were doing this.

The excitement on the beach was just amazing! They didn't let us on the beach until 12:15, so it was a little crazed trying to get 4,500 people into small gates.

Surprisingly, I was able to walk around barefoot because the sand was actually pretty warm!I was getting very emotional as they were counting down the time to get into the water.Not because it was going to be cold, but because of Colin and the fact everyone was doing this for him and for the many other people that are proud participants of the Special Olympics.

So, we got lined up! I will tell you...I was nervous! I didn't know what it would feel like!And then we plunged!!!!!

It all happened so fast that it took a moment for it to register how cold it was. I went under water and when I came up, I was trying to get out as fast as I could...which was very difficult given the fact that people were still trying to get IN the water. If this next picture is any indication...I was RUNNING to get out (and Chris was just, well exhilerated?).

Yes it was cold....but it was the most amazing experience to do something that wasn't comfortable in honor of Colin. It meant more than just jumping in...it signifies what we have overcome to get to this point and all of the things we will face along the way. You just jump in. It might take your breath away, it might shock you, and it might even make you feel a little panicky....but you realize that it's all worth it and feels pretty damn good...

Happy Birthday Grandad!

Dear Grandad,

I just wanted to wish you a very happy birthday (even though it's a day late)! You mean so much to me and I am very thankful to have you in my life! I love you Grandad!!

xoxoxoxxoxoxox

Love,

Colin

Colin's Happenings

Colin has been a very busy boy lately! He has lots of checkups and initial visits as well as his normal therapy appointments and swim lessons. What's nice about my job is that most mornings I don't have to be in until 10am or later, so I am able to schedule a lot of things for the morning before work.

Colin's pediatrician has been monitoring some things and one of the things she noticed was that one of Colin's testicles hadn't fully descended (little boys have up until a year for this to happen). Off we went to get an ultrasound to find out where "it" was hiding. We had a male technician who was very professional, which is nice considering the body part, however, so many things were running through my head that I know if Chris was there, we could have made a joke or two. Considering the location of the testes, I had to hold Colin's legs up in the air 1/2 naked so the tech could appropriately get a good picture. Colin ripped one and all I could think was, please don't poop on the table (which he didn't thankfully!)!

We followed up with the urologist who reported that both testes were there, but one of them was 'retracting' which is quite normal. Fortunately, it was something that may resolve on its own and shouldn't need surgery. In a few cases the testicle will retract and act as though it never descended and for that we would need surgery. He also checked on Colin's circumcision (it mostly appears as though he wasn't circumcised (which he was) because there is a little excess of skin). He said at this time there is nothing we can do but wait (which I am fine with) and follow up when is about 18 months old. At that time, we may have to potentially assess the need for a circumcision revision.

We had a BAER test performed at the hospital's EEG lab which really just rules out worst case scenario with hearing loss. It essentially assesses the nerves that run from the ear to the brain to make sure that signals are traveling appropriately. I still haven't received the results from that yet but since my pediatrician or the radiologist did not get in touch with us I assume the results were normal (especially since we are confident Colin doesn't fall under the "worst case scenario" category with his hearing).

Even though we had the BAER test done, we still had to follow up with the audiologist which we had been avoiding because we were so discouraged. When I called, I spoke to the woman who had had unsucessful attempts with the testing and told her how I was feeling. I asked if she had smaller equipment for Colin's ear canals (like the pieces they used for the BAER test) and so she finally referred us across the street to the hospital. And guess what? THEY had the right pieces! His right ear passed with flying colors, however, unfortunately due to the teeth that still haven't popped through yet, he woke up with some congestion that caused his left ear to fail. So, we still need to go back and assess the left ear when the congestion is clear (which it is already).

Colin is working really hard in physical therapy right now. It can sometimes feel overwhelming because there is always so much to work on and as soon as he accomplishes one skill, you move right on to the next, or you find ways to get "out of" the position you worked so hard to achieve. We are still working on hands and knees (slow to come) as well as "short sitting". This involves using something like a couch cushion or under the bed box where Colin doesn't have a back support and his feet can touch the floor.

Even though the 1st attempt during therapy did not go well, Colin was able to successfully "short sit" for Chris and I that night and ever since. It's definitely hard work, but Colin is a trooper!

However, he DOES have his moments where he is NOT interested...

Once he is "short sitting", Chris and I have to work to entertain Colin so that he will stay in that position for a little bit. As time goes by, we will have him reach more for objects so that he has to reposition.We have modified hands a knees a little bit where Colin is on his knees, but propped up on the bed box or couch cushion so that he tries and 'props' more on his hands (very slow to come).

In developmental therapy, Colin is working on LOTS of things (speech, sounds, pointing, animals, books, imitation, etc.) and the sessions usually go wherever Colin leads them. Even though he knows his therapists, his true personality and comfort level with them has really started to change the past few weeks. He has become a real "ham" with cheesey smiles and all for Miss D and Miss K. They both eat it up (but who wouldn't?)!

Finally, Colin still really enjoys his swim lessons! When we get to the pool and are in the bubble, Colin definitely knows where he is and gets excited!

He LOVES splashing the water (mostly with his feet)...don't mind Chris' and my faces in the next 2 pictures but they are the way they are because of Colin's splashing.
We work on "holding on" to the side of the pool...

Kicking while on his back (even though he likes to bring his legs up to hold them) and jumping into the water (where he goes under and then swims)...

We also sing lots of songs and play with noodles! Who doesn't love a good noodle ride? (Currently, Chris and Colin are "locked" in London Bridge)

At the end of his lesson, Colin is always tired and ready for a nap!

Spread the Word

Spread the word, to stop the use of the R-word....

Warming Up Party!

As I previously mentioned, we decided to go through and have the warming up party even though the plunge was postponed to Saturday, March 6th. It seems kind of funny to have had a polar bear plunge postponed after snow, but the decision came based on the town of Seaside Heights itself and the lack of parking that would be available after all of the snow we have had.

We had such a great time!

We are so thankful to Jorie and Zach for organizing this party to relish in all of CAT Crews' accomplishments! They did so much for the party including renting the clubhouse and organizing food/drinks. So many friends and family made and brought delicious food and drinks and we were grateful for it all!

Unfortunately, our little boy is still going through the process of having his 1st tooth bust through! This has been quite and adventure with nothing to show for it yet! He was pretty bummy on Saturday and had the reddest cheeks! Poor little guy was clearly uncomfortable but enjoyed being with his friends and family...

Our family posing for a picture with THE member of CAT Crew himself...

Colin had his lunch...

...and then took a much needed rest from all of the commotion.

Chris was silly with his buddy Liam

Colin snuggled with his Uncle Timmy, who came all the way up from North Carolina (12 hours on a bus!) to be here for the plunge...and then unfortunately it was postponed!

The day was a great reason to get some family shots...first the Williams'

and then the Tobins

At the end of the day, Colin spent more time with Uncle Timmy before he had to leave (see the red cheeks?)

And then my favorite picture of the day (and maybe of all time) was a quiet moment that Daddy and Colin stole with each other...

We are so blessed to have SO MANY wonderful friends and family who were there, but unfortunately, I was worrying about some other things so I didn't get any pictures! I will try to do better the day of the plunge!

Thanks Jorie for the pictures!